Safety envelope



Sept. 10, 1940. J. KUBINYI SAFETY ENVELOPE Filed March 9, 1939 3 Joseph ffubz'ny rbp Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITE m 1 Claim.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in safety envelopes.

The primary object of the invention is toprovide a safety envelope wherein a lock device is associated with the sealing or closure flap and back wall of the body of the envelope to prevent opening of the envelope other than by tearing or cutting so that unauthorized tampering with the closed envelope may be readily detected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety envelope of the foregoing character wherein the lock device for the closure flap is of such character that opening of the envelope is impossible without tearing the same, the lock device 5 including an element positioned within the envelope and operable eXteriorly of the envelope to accomplish the lochng operation of the lock device.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of an envelope equipped with the lock device of this invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the envelope shown in Figure 1, with the bolt element of the lock device in its released position as illustrated by dotted lines upon the initial closing of the envelope flap,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view,

similar to Figure 2, showing the lock bolts of the lock device projected to their locked positions with the flap of the envelope permanently closed,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary inner face View of the rear wall of the envelope showing the lock device thereon and in its locked position,

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lock bar or strap of the lock device,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pin for retaining the lock bolts in their retracted positions, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the flap of the envelope showing openings therein for the passage of the lock bar or strap of the lock device.

The envelope with which the lock device is associated is of the usual construction having a front wall It, a rear wall i l and a closure flap l2. The lock device for the closure flap [2 comprises a relatively thin cardboard plate l3 adhesively or otherwise secured to the inner face of the back wall I I, the cardboard plate l3 having therein a relatively large rectangular opening M. A substantially U-shaped resilient wire frame has side legs l5 and a connecting cross leg I6, 5 the cross leg It being secured to the lower end of the cardboard plate l3 by means of the inclosed paper or fabric strap ll, while the upper ends of the side legs l5 that by their inherent resiliency move away from each other are bent at 10 right angles outwardly providing lock bolts [8, the upper ends of the side legs l5 as illustrated in Figure 4 being positioned laterally of the central opening M in the cardboard plate l3.

A lock bar or strap is associated with the ten- 15 sioned bolts l8 and, as shown in detail in Figure 6, the lock bar or strap 20 has angularly bent ends 2!, each of which has an opening 22 therein providing keepers for the two lock bolts IS.

The flap 12 of the envelope as shown in Figure 20 8 is provided with a pair of spaced openings or slots 23 and similarly formed openings are pro vided in the back wall I I of the envelope and the upper end of the cardboard plate l3 for the passage of the angle ends 2! of the lock bar or strap 25 2t and the interior of the envelope as shown in Figure 5.

To retain the lock bolts IS in their retracted positions as shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, a pin 24 shown in detail in Figure 7 is provided and 0 has latch ends 25 bent at right angles thereto, the latch ends of the pin 24 being engaged with the side legs l5 for holding them against separation and with the outer ends of the bolts I8 inwardly and laterally of the openings 23 in the 35 flap B2. A flexible cord 26 is looped around the pin 24 intermediate the ends thereof and both of the strings 26 pass through an opening 21 in the back wall I l of the envelope to depend below the flap 52 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. 40

After the contents are placed in the envelope, the closure flap i2 is folded into closed position and the lock bar or strap 20 then has the ends 2! thereof passed through the openings 23 in the flap i2 and registering openings in th back wall 45 l l and cardboard plate IS with the keeper openings 22 in the angle'ends 2i of the lock bar alined with the lock bolts l8. A pull on the string 26 disengages the latch ends 25 of the pin 24 from the side legs l 5 that carry the lock bolts with the resiliency of the side legs 55 outwardly projecting the lock bolts 18 for passage into the keeper openings 22 in the lock bar ends 2i. A pull on one end of the string 26 completely removes the 55 string from the envelope and with the latch pin 24 displaced from the side legs I5, the lock bolts 18 remain permanently positioned in the keeper openings 22 for the securer sealing of the envelope flap I2. I

While there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

In an envelope and fastening device therefor, an envelope having front and back walls and a hinged closure flap, a plate secured to the inner face of the back wall, a U-shaped spring device having the bight thereof attached to said plate, the side legs of the spring device, each having an outwardly directed lock bolt at its free end, means releasably engaged with said legs for normally restraining outward separating movements of the legs before sealing the envelope, a lock bar having apertured angle ends with the ends passed inwardly through the flap and back wall with the lock bolts receivable in the apertured ends, said means including a. pin having latch ends releasably engageable with the side legs and a pull cord attached to the pin and extending through the back wall.

JOSEPH KUBINYI. 

